GetTogether... a time for chanting, meditation, mutual inspiration, relaxation and... of course, a laugh or two.
You don't need to bring anything. You don't need to prepare or have experience. You don't need a good singing voice, you don't need to bring an instrument. You don't need to let us know you're coming. You just need to come and try it out. Just come, sit down and enjoy.
Meeting in the lower level of 2nd April galerie in the Kathleen Howland theatre on the 2nd Saturday at 2nd April... got it? ;) 324 Cleveland Ave Nw, in downtown Canton OH. Refreshments are available for purchase at 2nd April's coffee bar.
A freewill donation is collected after the gathering to pay for expenses. If you have questions, please contact me (su) at 330-232-1888 or email me.
The Get Together is a time to gather and explore the power of stillness and resting in the present moment. It is intended to provide a space where people from various backgrounds and experiences can learn more....practice....be part of a group....for support...and as a source of ideas. The group, while spiritual in nature, is not religious. We intend to provide an atmosphere where people of any or no tradition will feel welcome.
We generally explore a guided meditation technique. The group organizers come prepared to do this but if you are an experienced meditator and have a technique to share, you are welcome to do that. If we have too many ideas, the group can choose what we do that day. From that technique, we then move into kirtan, a call and response chanting technique. Sometimes, if our dance leader is available, we'll end with some movement based meditation.
More about kirtan
Kirtan is a style of chanting, used in Hindi cultures for 500 years but now seeing growing popularity, especially in the US. It's a "call and response" style of chanting, meaning you "follow the leader" and don't have to know anything about this style of music to participate and enjoy. It is said to have been introduced in the US in the 1920's, when Paramhansa Yogananda (Author of Autobiography of a Yogi) chantedwith 3,000 people at Carnegie Hall in 1923.
Kirtan is a devotional practice but not about religion. The phrases are traditionally sung in Sankrit but today there are chants in English, Hebrew, Native American languages... and many more. Singing kirtan is a type of meditation as it keeps the mind occupied allowing you to explore depths within you. Rather than seeking for answers outside of ourselves, this and other meditation practices encourages you to explore the answers within.
The following is an excerpt from 'Pilgrim of the Heart' audio series by Krishna Das:
"The words of these chants are called the divine names and they come from a place that's deeper than our hearts and our thoughts, deeper than the mind. And so as we sing them they turn us towards ourselves, into ourselves. They bring us in, and as we offer ourselves into the experience, the experience changes us. These chants have no meaning other than the experience that we have by doing them. They come from the Hindu tradition, but it's not about being a Hindu, or believing anything in advance. It's just about doing it, and experiencing. Nothing to join, you just sit down and sing."
Thanks to these Kirtan artists who have given permission for us to sing their music. All of these artists have also offered me instruction and encouragement for which I'm very grateful.
Ragani- http://www.raganiworld.com
Mike Cohen- http://www.mikecohenkirtan.com
Robin Renee- http://www.robinrenee.com
Jeff Kiko-Cozy- http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kikocozy
Other popular kirtan artists you might enjoy (and yes, there are many, many more. )
Krishna Das- http://www.krishadas.com
Jai Uttal- http://jaiuttal.com/
Dave Stringer- http://davestringer.com/
David Newman: www.davidnewmanmusic.com
Brenda McMorrow: www.brendamcmorrow.com
2nd April Galerie & Studios